CIVIL War Presentation Staff & Field Officer Sword 9th Massachusetts Infantry
PRESERVING AMERICAN CIVIL WAR HISTORY, CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION STAFF & FIELD OFFICER SWORD FOR 9TH MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY, POSSIBLY A CAPTURED SWORD BY CONFEDERATES, SADLLY THE OFFICER'S NAME AND COMPANY HAS BEEN PURPOSELY SCRATCHED OUT AND RENDERED ILLEGIBLE. Organized 26 October 1798 in the Massachusetts Militia at Boston as the Columbian Artillery, Sublegion of Artillery, Legionary Brigade, 1st Division, Captain Robert Gardner commanding. Reorganized 12 March 1810 as the Columbian Artillery, Battalion of Artillery, 3d Brigade, 1st Division. Reorganized 1 July 1834 as the Regiment of Artillery, 3d Brigade, 1st Division; on 2 July 1836 as the Battalion of Artillery, 3d Brigade, 1st Division. Reorganized 24 April 1840 in the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia as Company B (Columbian Artillery), 1st Battalion of Artillery, 1st Brigade, 1st Division.
Redesignated 4 June 1844 as Company B (Columbian Artillery), 5th Regiment of Artillery, 1st Division. Disbanded 12 January 1855 (concurrently, Columbian Artillery reorganized as the Columbian Association, a civil organization). Columbian Association authorized to form the 13th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia; regiment organized 3 May 1861 with Company A designated as the Columbian Guards. Mustered into Federal service 11 June 1861 at Boston as the 9th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment; mustered out of Federal service 21 June 1864 at Boston. The old Columbian Artillery of Massachusetts was disbanded because of non-native born American bias pressures stemming from Governor Gardner & the Know Nothing Party.
The Columbian Artillery reformed as the Columbian Association, a fraternal group that maintained its own armory. At the outbreak of the Civil War, many members of the Columbian Association joined up as the new Columbian Guards known as Company A of the 9th Massachusetts Infantry. Notable battles of the 9th Massachusetts include Mechanicsville, Malvern Hill, 2nd Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness & Cold Harbor. The blade of this sword is etched over 2/3 of its length w/ various military, patriotic & foliate motifs including crossed cannons that pay homage to the unit's roots as the Columbian Artillery.Gilded brass scabbard w/ exceptionally ornate mounts & suspension loops. The scabbard is engraved between the top 2 mounts w/ the officer's name (no longer legible) & By Members of Columbian Guards Mass. As a mark of esteem to a deserving Officer. Sadly, the officer's name & company has been purposely scratched out & rendered illegible.